Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle is a substantial stone castle which survives as a well-known ruin that is open to the public as a visitor attraction for a fee. The castle sits at the western end of the town which grew up in its shadow, along the narrow spit of land between the Pembroke River and a tributary to the south. It is clearly visible from every direction.

The castle was founded in the 11th century for Roger de Montgomery, and was seized by King Henry I after the rebellion and forfeiture of Robert de Belleme. It remained one of the principal royal fortresses in south-west Wales for over thirty years, after which King Stephen granted it to Gilbert de Clare of Tonbridge, along with the title Earl of Pembroke. The Clares started to strengthen the castle defences in stone, but much of the defences today are later, a significant part 13th century, and the work of the Marshal Earls of Pembroke (1146-1245), including the great round keep. After 1245, Pembroke passed to William de Valance, and his son Aymer, who died in 1324. Subsequently the importance of the castle and earldom declined, although a brief renaissance took place in the latter 15th century, when it was the birthplace of Jasper Tudor, the half-brother of King Henry VI, and uncle of King Henry VII. The castle was unroofed by 1600, but strong enough to endure a siege in the Civil War, after which it was slighted.

The castle is at its most basic a strongly fortified promontory consisting of an outer and inner enclosure, each of which was defended by a large ditch. The outer bailey is defended by five towers (probably six originally) and a double-towered gatehouse with a curving barbican, accessing the outer ward, which is today grassed over and largely featureless. The inner ward is accessed through a D-shaped gate tower, and a round  tower; the natural conours of the rock provide much of the defence from the waterside, but a stone wall crowns this, and there are two surviving mural towers, both square. Within the inner ward is the massive round stone keep, a chapel, and in the eastern corner the principal residential buildings; the halls, chancery and so on. Most of these survive well, and the line of the town walls can also be followed, although not accessible for the most part.

RCAHMW Coflein database entry

Official Pembroke Castle website